A report on the latest developments from the global warming talks
in Buenos Aires from the Buenos Aires Global Warming Summit Information
Center's on-site reporter, John Carlisle.

The Intellectual Approach to the Global Warming Debate

The most significant event of the day occurred when I (representing The
National Center for Public Policy Research) and Marlo Lewis and Jim Sheehan
(both of the Competitive Enterprise Institute) briefed several Argentine
businessmen and "Patent and Trademark" attorneys on the perils
of the Kyoto Protocol.

The meeting included a presentation by Kent Bonham, Chief of Staff to
Senator Chuck Hagel, on why the United States Senate is adamantly opposed
to ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. Bonham specifically addressed the economic
costs of Kyoto and the concerns many in the U.S. Senate have over the exclusion
of developing nations from carbon dioxide emission reduction requirements.
Bonham emphasized to the group that the Senate is not trying to gang up
on developing nations such as Argentina but is insisting that it perform
its duty to protect America's national economic interests -- a point no
one took issue with.

Robert Haynes of Mobil Oil discussed how Kyoto would require major increases
in the cost of gasoline in order to meet CO2 reduction targets.

Steve Jenkins of TECO Energy, which supplies the Tampa Bay, Florida area,
explained to the group how Kyoto would force his company to take drastic
steps. Currently, 98% of TECO's plants are coal-fired. To meet Kyoto targets,
TECO would have to convert 80% of its facilities to non-coal energy sources.
That would force TECO to lay off hundreds of workers at its own mine and
would force layoffs by the thousands at the other mines TECO contracts with.

Jenkins also emphasized how a depressed U.S. economy resulting from the
Kyoto treaty would have a negative impact on developing nations' economies,
including Argentina's. Currently, Argentina exports $2 billion, or 10% of
its overall exports, to the United States. Furthermore, an increase in aviation
gasoline would decrease travel and tourism to Argentina.

Don Perlman of the Climate Council emphasized that there is no way that
the U.S. and many other nations could reduce CO2 emissions without reducing
economic growth.

David Rothbard of the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) discussed
how the environmental movement is motivated by a deep and profound animus
to modern industrial civilization and that Kyoto is only one round in their
war.

Constance Holmes of the National Mining Association reiterated how Kyoto-inflicted
damage to the U.S. economy would ripple through the global economy.

Marlo Lewis of the Competitive Enterprise Institute told the group that
just as Japan's depression has helped depress many other Asian economies,
so too would a depressed U.S. economy affect other national economies. Marlo
made the point that Kyoto is falsely compared to an insurance policy: Treaty
proponents assert we better do this or we will be sorry. He explained that
the science was hardly conclusive, specifically mentioning how NASA's James
Hansen had backtracked on his original predictions. Marlo also made the
point that, even if implemented, Kyoto would reduce the projected temperature
increase a mere .1 degree Fahrenheit by 2050: A bad insurance policy against
a phenomenon that most likely doesn't exist.

Finally, I discussed how the key predictions made by global warming theory
proponents have not been borne out. I related how the projected sea level
increases have been repeatedly downgraded and made the point that the sea
level increases that have occurred are unrelated to the climate, but linked
to tectonic shifts. I also discussed how arctic warming is not occurring
and glaciers are not melting due to global warming.

The Not-So-Intellectual Approach to the Global Warming Debate

On November 8, Greenpeace, Earth Action and other environmental groups
put on a public relations stunt that aptly contrasted our reasoned, intellectual
approach to the global warming issue and environmentalists' emotional, scare
tactics. Five "dancers" sponsored by the groups rappelled down
the facade of the National University Law Building in Buenos Aires to perform
a mid-air joust between "Oil Man" (dressed in a black suit) and
Mother Earth. After an up and down struggle, grunting "Oil Man"
killed a shrieking Mother Earth. Then, miraculously, "Oil Man"
took off his suit and transformed into "Renewable Energy Man."
Mother Earth sprung to life again and the two fruitcakes happily danced.
David Rothbard of Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) concluded
that, shrill and silly as the event was, it precisely captured how the environmentalists
view industrial civilization in general.

(Editor's Note: The message of the environmentalists' mid-air performance
seems unclear. The editor provides these possible messages: 1. The oil industry
is actually a hero is disguise. 2. The planet is far more resilient than
environmentalists have ever admitted before as evidenced by Mother Earth
springing back to life. 3. Greenpeace and Earth Action just wanted to place
their employees lives at risk in a foreign country where they wouldn't be
bothered by that pesky Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 4.
Environmentalists need to improve their communication skills.)